The Role of Public Health in the U.S. National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security

1. The Role of Public Health in the U.S. National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security Dr. Basia Tomczyk Ms. Samira Sami, MPH IAWG RH Crises May 31-June 1, 2013 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Center for Global Health International Emergency and Refugee Health Branch

2. Outline • Public Health Significance • US NAP on Women, Peace, and Security • CDC’s Role • Next Steps • Summary

3. Public Health Significance Public health in humanitarian settings Large population displacement (refugees and IDPs) Destroyed public health infrastructure Higher incidence of morbidity and mortality Increased risk factors for epidemic diseases, malnutrition, war-related injury, poor reproductive health outcomes, etc. Women’s health in humanitarian settings Women and children are disproportionately affected Increased risk for sexual violence Risk of poor maternal and neonatal outcomes Lack of access and availability of RH services

4. US NAP on Women, Peace and Security • Mechanism to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security • Joined over 30 countries with a National Action Plan (NAP) • December 2011: President Obama released the US NAP and signed an Executive Order directing NAP as policy • High impact, necessary, achievable and feasible • High level policy engagement • Inter-agency Policy Committee (IPC) • Chair: NSS Director of Security and Human Rights Policy • Lead: DOD, DOS, USAID • Members: CDC, DOJ, DOT, Homeland Security, USUN, Peace Corp

5. US NAP on Women, Peace and Security (cont’d) Five National Objectives National Integration and Institutionalization Participation in Peace Processes and Decision-making Protection from Violence Conflict Prevention Access to Relief and Recovery Population: Conflict-affected or fragile state Peacekeeping mission Refugees Humanitarian emergency

6. CDC’s Role • Address four of the NAP National Objectives • National Integration and Institutionalization • Enhance staff capacity for applying a gender‐sensitive approach • Establish mechanisms to promote accountability of gender-related policies and evaluate NAP initiatives • Protection from Violence • Decrease risks of GBV in crisis and conflict‐affected environments • Conflict Prevention • Engage women in preparedness and response initiatives • Increase access to health care and education services for females • Access to Relief and Recovery • Evaluate and integrate gender and protection issues in response • Enhance capacity of partners to prevent and respond to GBV

7. CDC’s Role (cont’d) Using a Public Health Strategy for NAP Implementation Significant public health impact Impact on indicators for violence, physical security, and reproductive health Evidence based and feasible Build into existing CDC programs Country prioritization Metrics to assess performance Existing and new CDC tools

8. CDC’s Role (cont’d) CDC Internal Working Group Multiple programs across the agency Role of CDC Working Group Facilitate communication across agency Seek strategic opportunities in existing initiatives Achieve NAP objectives Establish reporting mechanism External Partners US Civil Society Working Group UN Partners: UNFPA, UNICEF, UNHCR, WHO

9. CDC’s Role (cont’d) CDC’s Implementation Plan to achieve NAP outcomes Report on existing activities Violence Against Children Surveys GBV and HIV programs Propose new activities Policies and Strategies Public Health Investigations Operational Research Guidelines Emergency Response

10. CDC’s Focus Countries Criteria Country context Active conflict, post-conflict or undergoing political transition High risk of instability or fragility Active peace negotiations International peacekeeping mission Existing host country NAP Neglected emergency or protracted refugee situation CDC HQ and Country Office capacity and interest

11. Next Steps (cont’d) Operational Research Improve the evidence base for GBV prevention and response during conflict and relief and recovery Population based studies on magnitude and scope of GBV in Liberia and Uganda to inform programs and policies (UNFPA, UNHCR) Methodology for measuring violence against children in armed conflict (UNICEF, Columbia University) Rapid qualitative study focusing on abduction and recruitment of children including attacks on education and sexual violence Solar Light evaluation Haiti Guidelines Support development of guidelines on RH/GBV issues and indicators (e.g. SPHERE) in humanitarian settings Interagency Field Manual for RH in Humanitarian Settings Technical meeting on measurement of selected SPHERE indicators

12. Next Steps (cont’d) Partnerships Plan and maintain partnerships with strategic organizations MOU with UNFPA and UNHCR; Cooperative Agreement with IRC GBV sub-cluster and Interagency Working Group (IAWG) for RH in Crises Identify intra- and inter-agency linkages for emerging opportunities to address WPS through existing USG initiatives Link with other Presidential initiatives (e.g. PEPFAR, PMI, GHI) Emergency Response Deploy staff to support UN/NGO partners to improve RH/GBV access and coordination 2011 Horn of Africa response (UNFPA, UNHCR); 2010 Pakistan floods (UNFPA) Advocate for data collection by IERHB and UN partners to include gender indicators or sex-disaggregated data

13. Next Steps (cont’d) Public Health Investigations Conduct gender-integrated assessments, surveillance and program evaluations in humanitarian settings Assessment of GBV response in Uganda settlements (UNHCR and partners) KAP study to inform UNSCR 1308 on impact of HIV/AIDS on international peacekeeping in Haiti and Liberia Capacity Building Enhance capacity for mainstreaming gender among CDC emergency response staff and external partners Integrate the NAP in emergency preparedness and response trainings through CDC regional centers

14. Summary • The NAP is a roadmap for how the United States will accelerate and institutionalize efforts across the government to advance women’s participation in preventing conflict and keeping peace. • The policy represents a fundamental change in how the U.S. will approach its diplomatic, military, and development-based support to women in areas of conflict, by ensuring that their perspectives and considerations of gender are woven into the fabric of how the U.S. approaches humanitarian assistance.

15. Thank you!